Mr GILES - 2012-02-14
In Alice Springs last week, it took police almost 40 minutes to respond to a number of 000 calls about a rampage and an assault at the Aurora Hotel. Police said they did not attend because they thought the incident related to property damage and not violent crime, and because on-duty officers were monitoring prisoners in custody. Can you detail for the House how many officers were on duty in Alice Springs last Thursday night, and why it took so long to respond to this matter? Is it satisfactory, particularly for the two young girls, taxpayers in the Northern Territory, who cannot get police to respond when they are being assaulted?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, in relation to that particular incident, it was absolutely unacceptable. What was also unacceptable was a film crew basically creating the incident in the first place by filming people without their permission. In no way does that excuse the behaviour of those people. That film crew, and the people who were operating that film crew, need to have a good, hard look at themselves and the incident that occurred as a result.
Police have reviewed this particular matter and have accepted that they did not respond in time. They have now changed the way they respond when units are dealing with other matters.
In January, there were 3188 calls to the 131 444 number from Alice Springs. Out of 3188 calls, from time to time something is going to go wrong. If the honourable member was genuine about this, I am sure he would have asked for a briefing from police as to what happened in this circumstance, as opposed to just looking for cheap political mileage ...
Mr GILES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! He can bait me. I am honourable. This happens every day. It has happened to me personally when they will not turn up when I call ...
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, that is not a point of order.
Mr GILES: ... fights with knives and the police do not turn up. You have a problem ...
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, resume your seat.
Mr GILES: ... fix your problem.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! That is not a point of order!
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, this is an issue for the Police Commissioner. I am sure if you have a concern the Commissioner will be very happy to give you a tour of the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre, the JESCC, at Berrimah to see how well it is working ...
Mr Giles: What about you? You are the Police minister.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: Police data shows there has been as improvement to response to Alice Springs calls. Since they were directed to the JESCC in November 2009, there has been a 25% improvement in 000 calls and almost a 10% improvement in calls to 131 444 ...
Mr GILES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Part of the question asked whether it was satisfactory. I would like the Police minister to say whether it was satisfactory or otherwise.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, resume your seat. Resume your seat!
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, he obviously does not listen to the answers. I did say that police accept they did not respond in time. They reviewed the call and have made changes, as I would expect them to do.
There were 3188 calls to 131 444 from Alice Springs in January. One or two were going to go astray. They continue to attack the police, they continue to talk Alice Springs down. That incident should never have happened ...
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, in relation to that particular incident, it was absolutely unacceptable. What was also unacceptable was a film crew basically creating the incident in the first place by filming people without their permission. In no way does that excuse the behaviour of those people. That film crew, and the people who were operating that film crew, need to have a good, hard look at themselves and the incident that occurred as a result.
Police have reviewed this particular matter and have accepted that they did not respond in time. They have now changed the way they respond when units are dealing with other matters.
In January, there were 3188 calls to the 131 444 number from Alice Springs. Out of 3188 calls, from time to time something is going to go wrong. If the honourable member was genuine about this, I am sure he would have asked for a briefing from police as to what happened in this circumstance, as opposed to just looking for cheap political mileage ...
Mr GILES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! He can bait me. I am honourable. This happens every day. It has happened to me personally when they will not turn up when I call ...
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, that is not a point of order.
Mr GILES: ... fights with knives and the police do not turn up. You have a problem ...
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, resume your seat.
Mr GILES: ... fix your problem.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! That is not a point of order!
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, this is an issue for the Police Commissioner. I am sure if you have a concern the Commissioner will be very happy to give you a tour of the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre, the JESCC, at Berrimah to see how well it is working ...
Mr Giles: What about you? You are the Police minister.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: Police data shows there has been as improvement to response to Alice Springs calls. Since they were directed to the JESCC in November 2009, there has been a 25% improvement in 000 calls and almost a 10% improvement in calls to 131 444 ...
Mr GILES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Part of the question asked whether it was satisfactory. I would like the Police minister to say whether it was satisfactory or otherwise.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, resume your seat. Resume your seat!
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, he obviously does not listen to the answers. I did say that police accept they did not respond in time. They reviewed the call and have made changes, as I would expect them to do.
There were 3188 calls to 131 444 from Alice Springs in January. One or two were going to go astray. They continue to attack the police, they continue to talk Alice Springs down. That incident should never have happened ...
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016